Teenagers arrested for kidnapping expatriates, oil theft

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four young people for affirmed association in oil burglary and the kidnapping of two ostracizes in the Epe and Igando zone of the state. 

Reporters learnt that the four suspects – Michael Loko, 19; Oluwatomi Obosi, 19;

Francis Cyprian, 19; and Olatoye Semiu, 18 – were captured by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, on Tuesday.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the suspects were likewise affirmed to be required in pipeline vandalism in the Isawo, Ikorodu territory of the state. 

It was assembled that two exiles had been supposedly stole in the Epe and Igando ranges of the state at various times in July, after which undisclosed payoffs were paid before their discharge. 

A police source said, "The youngsters additionally helped oil criminals to convey petrol guided from pipelines into the trucks available to be purchased." 

Talking with PUNCH Metro, Loko, who admitted to the kidnapping, included that he gathered N280,000 as his offer from the payoff paid for the arrival of the ostracize in the Epe zone. 

He included that his senior sibling, Amos Loko, and different assistants conveyed the casualty to their refuge in Isawo. 

Loko said he and the three others likewise made N1,000 day by day from helping pipeline vandals. 

He said, "I was captured in Epe. I was included in the abducting of an ostracize. My senior sibling, Amos, was the person who did the operation. My sibling and different accessories were later captured. 

"Despite the fact that I don't have the foggiest idea about the aggregate sum of cash gathered as payment from the exile in Epe, I was given an offer of N280,000 for my part in the operation. I was into unlawful oil bargains furthermore help pipeline vandals to convey jerrycans of petrol from water to the shore. I win N1,000 day by day." 

Another associated part with the posse, Cyprian, who acted as a disciple bricklayer, said Loko (Michael) acquainted him with illicit oil business in January 2016. 

He said, "Michael and I went to the same optional school. I was filling in as a bricklayer, yet I chose to leave the place of employment since I earned minimal expenditure from it. The primary day I got included in conveying stolen petroleum, I earned N1,000. 

"I was captured when I went to a lady in the Ikorodu zone, who I had spared a portion of the returns of the oil robbery with. I needed to gather N80,000 from her, yet I arrived in police net." 

Another young person, Semiu, said, "I learnt fitting, yet after graduation, I was not able rent a shop. I couldn't motivate cash to buy every one of my instruments. In this way, I joined the posse." 

The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, who paraded the group individuals, said the order would not endure demonstrations of culpabilities, including that the general population ought to dependably profit the police of sound data at all times.

Source: Punch News